Escape the implementation nightmare.
Keep the power.
HelpSpot replaces the heavy administration, expensive consultants, and endless implementation cycles of ServiceNow with a solution that just works.
Why teams switch from ServiceNow
The same frustrations we hear from every ServiceNow switcher
Consultant Dependency
ServiceNow is a complex PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service). Implementing it typically requires 6+ months and expensive third-party certified consultants.
Ready Out of the Box
HelpSpot is a finished product. You can configure mailboxes, portals, and rules yourself in a single afternoon without writing code.
Hidden Cost Layers
Beyond the license, you face costs for 'Now Assist' AI add-ons, 'Fulfiller' vs. 'Approver' user roles, and mandatory implementation fees.
Transparent Pricing
One simple price includes every feature and every user. No role-based restrictions, no consumption taxes, and no surprise fees.
Platform Bloat
Built for IT operations management (ITOM) and asset tracking, the interface is often cluttered and slow for agents who just need to manage tickets.
Purpose-Built Speed
A fast, focused interface designed 100% for ticket management. Agents spend their time helping customers, not navigating menus.
ServiceNow vs HelpSpot
See how the two platforms compare on what matters most
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The "Standard" limitations
The base ITSM Standard plan excludes critical features like Performance Analytics, Advanced Work Assignment, and AI. You must upgrade to 'Pro' or 'Enterprise' to get them.
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AI is a luxury add-on
Modern Generative AI (Now Assist) is gated behind the expensive 'Pro Plus' tier or sold as a consumption-based add-on, significantly increasing per-seat costs.
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Cloud-only for most
Self-hosted deployment requires strong business justification and is typically reserved for organizations with strict data residency requirements. Most commercial businesses are directed to the ServiceNow cloud.
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Paid support tiers
24/7 phone support and fast response times are not included in the base license. You must purchase a 'Premier' or 'Impact' support package.
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Everything included
One price gets you every feature we build. SLAs, collision detection, custom fields, and reporting are all standard from day one.
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AI included for free
We don't charge a tax on technology. Smart features like triaging, translation, and ticket summarization are included for every user at no extra cost.
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Your data, your choice
Choose US Cloud, EU Cloud, or Self-Hosted. Complete control over where your customer data lives, at no extra cost.
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White glove onboarding
We help you migrate, configure your account, and train your team—for free. We invest in your success from day one.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Comparing ServiceNow ITSM Standard vs HelpSpot
HelpSpot
|
ServiceNow
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Feature | All Inclusive | ITSM Standard ~$100/user/mo |
|
Core Ticketing
|
||
| Familiar email-inspired workflow | ||
| Email-to-ticket conversion | ||
| Collision detection | Workspace only | |
| Custom fields | ||
| Conditional field logic | ||
| Rich customer replies (images, files, emoji) | ||
| Unlimited mailboxes | ||
|
Portal & Knowledge Base
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||
| Customer portal | ||
| Contact form | ||
| Portal theme customization | Requires Developer | |
| Multi-brand portals | Complex Setup | |
| Knowledge base | ||
| Knowledge base WYSIWYG | ||
|
Automation & Workflow
|
||
| Trigger rules | ||
| Time based automation rules | ||
| Round-robin assignment | Pro Plan (AWA) | |
| SLA management | ||
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AI Features
|
||
| AI writing assistance | Included | Pro Plus / Add-on |
| AI ticket summarization | Included | Pro Plus / Add-on |
| AI translation | Included | Pro Plan Only |
| Intelligent triage | Included | Pro Plan Only |
|
Reporting & Analytics
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||
| Built-in reports | ||
| Custom report builder | Pro Plan (PA) | |
| Real-time dashboards | Pro Plan (PA) | |
| Scheduled report exports | ||
| Export to Excel/CSV | ||
| Direct SQL database access | Self-hosted | Read-only / ODBC |
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Pricing Model
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| Feature tiers | 1 tier | Std / Pro / Ent |
| Add-on costs | None | Many (AI, ITOM) |
| Unlimited tickets | ||
| Cancel anytime | Annual Contract | |
| Refund policy | ||
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Support & Deployment
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| Phone support | All plans | Paid Add-on |
| Self-hosted option | Gov/Sec Only | |
| EU data residency | Included | Included |
| Access logs and redaction | ||
| Data & attachment storage | Unlimited | Tiered / Capped |
| Implementation help | Free | $20k+ Fees |
| API access | Unlimited | Rate Limited |
Ready to simplify your support?
The true cost of ServiceNow
Beyond the license fee, ServiceNow requires expensive implementation partners and premium support packages. Here's what a real team actually pays.
ServiceNow
Includes estimated implementation partner fees
+ Storage overages and AI add-ons not included
HelpSpot
Simple pricing, everything included
Save over $32,000 in year one
Migration made easy
We'll help you every step of the way
Export Your Data
Use ServiceNow's export tools to download your tickets and knowledge articles.
Import to HelpSpot
Our team works with you to import your historical data and get everything configured.
Go Live
Connect your email accounts to HelpSpot. Your team picks up right where they left off.
Deploy Your Way
Same price, same features. Choose the deployment that works for you.
Same powerful features and pricing across all hosting options.
US Cloud
CloudUS-East Region
Dedicated AWS infrastructure with 99.9% uptime. Managed updates and automated backups.
EU Cloud
CloudFrankfurt Region
GDPR-compliant hosting. Full data sovereignty with all information isolated within the EU.
Self-Hosted
EnterpriseOn-Premise Infrastructure
Complete control on your own hardware. Ideal for air-gapped networks or strict compliance.
Maximum Control & Data ResidencyWhat we believe
We've been building help desk software since 2005. Along the way, we've developed strong opinions about how support should work.
Single Assignment
Every ticket has one owner. Clear accountability means faster resolution and better outcomes.
Read moreHuman-First Support
Support is human-to-human communication. Technology should enhance it, not replace it.
Read moreSimple Pricing
One price. All features. No add-ons, no surprises. Budget with confidence.
Read moreBeyond Shared Mailbox
Email chaos ends here. Get collision detection, automation, and the visibility you need.
Read moreCompare other platforms
See how HelpSpot stacks up against other help desk solutions.
"Of the number of helpdesk systems we looked into, ranging from the off-the-shelf expensive systems to completely 'free', your product was the best looking, simplest for both the customer and the staff, the quickest to set-up and configure and reasonably priced."
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about switching from ServiceNow
If your goal is to manage support tickets, email, and customer service workflows efficiently, absolutely. ServiceNow is designed for massive IT operations (ITOM) and asset management. HelpSpot offers a more focused, faster, and easier-to-use experience for the actual work of supporting users.
For most commercial businesses, no. ServiceNow is primarily a SaaS platform. They offer an 'air-gapped' self-hosted version only for specific high-security government or federal use cases. HelpSpot offers a true self-hosted version available to any customer.
ServiceNow's advanced reporting ('Performance Analytics') is powerful but often requires a dedicated data analyst to build and maintain. HelpSpot provides robust, real-time reporting out of the box that is easy for any team lead to use without training.
No. This is the biggest difference. ServiceNow implementation often costs 2-3x the annual license fee. HelpSpot is designed to be set up by you, in hours, with free assistance from our team if you need it.
HelpSpot is the best ServiceNow alternative for teams that don't need enterprise ITSM. ServiceNow's opaque pricing, six-figure implementations, and admin complexity are designed for large enterprises. HelpSpot provides ticket management, automation, SLAs, AI, and custom reporting at a fraction of the cost, deployable in days with no consultants required.
ServiceNow doesn't publish pricing publicly. Licensing is negotiated per contract and typically starts around $100/user/month for ITSM Standard, with higher tiers costing significantly more. Implementation consulting commonly runs $150,000-$500,000+. Total first-year costs for a 10-person team often exceed $50,000. HelpSpot costs $1,699/year for 10 agents with everything included.
For most small companies, no. ServiceNow is designed for large enterprises with dedicated IT operations teams and complex ITSM needs. The licensing, implementation, and ongoing administration costs make it impractical for teams under 50 agents. Small companies get better value from a focused help desk like HelpSpot, which covers ticket management, automation, and reporting at a fraction of the cost.
Trusted by teams who made the switch
Trusted by industry leaders
Ready to switch?
We'll help you move.
Start your free trial and our team will help migrate your data, train your agents, and get you up and running. No risk, no commitment.
